Abstract
Epigenetics is the study of reversible inheritable changes in gene function that occur without a change in the sequence of nuclear DNA and is transmitted from one generation of cells or organisms to the next. The chemical modifications to DNA and its associated proteins help to determine the selective use of genes and influence cell fate. Epigenetic modifications of the genome are involved in regulating many cellular processes. These include embryonic development, X chromosome inactivation and genomic imprinting. Abnormal epigenetic modifications and control can cause disease, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. Identification of inheritable epigenetic patterns such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation has been proposed as a useful marker for the early detection and prognosis of diseases caused by epigenetic errors.
